State of Jefferson: New plan emerges

Friday

Oct 11, 2013 at 9:42 AM

David Smith

The recently reinvigorated state of Jefferson secession movement has been gathering momentum across northern California and southern Oregon in recent months, but a presentation Thursday night at the Gazelle Grange Hall detailed alternative means for achieving the same end: autonomy from a California legislature that Jefferson supporters believe no longer represents their interests.The meeting, which was attended by approximately 25 people, opened with a short prologue from District 3 Supervisor Michael Kobseff, who explained the county board of supervisors' reasoning behind its support for the movement. "The burden to bear is too great," he told the crowd, referencing state-wide regulations that are believed to disproportionately affect rural counties that have fewer representatives in the state legislature.Kobseff described the movement to secede and create a new state as "an uphill battle," explaining that California and federal legislators would have to approve the process as a matter of law.Jefferson Action Committee member Anthony Intiso feels that process is unnecessary, however, offering up the possibility of a "Constitutional Initiative Process" that he states would remove the power of determination from legislatures and place it with voters.Intiso, who spoke after Kobseff, said that the initiative process would be used to create a "Republic of Jefferson Territory", a chartered government entity created within an established state without the need for secession.An informational packet accompanying Intiso's speech describes the purpose of the initiative as an effort "to allow the people to vote for and establish a Constitutional 'Jefferson Republic' For Siskiyou County, within the recorded boundaries of Siskiyou County. It will be a new Government entity for the Health, Safety and Welfare of all its residents."According to Intiso, the power to craft a self-determined charter is contained within the California and U.S. constitutions, requiring a ballot measure to allow voters to call for a new framework of governance. Currently, he said, his group has gathered the required signatures to place such an initiative on the June 2014 ballot. In addition, Intiso said, the alternative to statehood movement has the backing of various Siskiyou Granges, along with individuals in the various towns and counties in which he has spoken. Asked about the conflicting methods of obtaining a separation from California governance, Intiso said, "I hope we're both successful," noting later that he respects the men and women involved in the statehood movement and that ultimately both are seeking the same thing obtained in different ways. Citizens in attendance asked a number of questions, ranging from how the republic would be funded and how various state programs on which people currently rely would be affected by dropping California's direction. In particular, one attendee said that she believed a number of people would likely be reticent to support either Jefferson movement without an economic plan to consider. While Intiso did not have an exact date for the release of such a document, he said that it is currently being researched and that he hopes it will be available at the beginning of 2014. With the process still early on, Intiso claimed that the charter process would allow voters in the Republic of Jefferson Territory to decide what manner of programs would be used to govern, allowing people to decide tax levels, environmental policy and resource management, among other facets of governance."We're all responsible for the current situation," Intiso told the crowd, "Now we have to show some backbone."Information on the Jefferson movements can be found at jeffersonstate.com or by going to jeffersondeclaration.net.